Automatic fire-shutter mechanism



May 12, 1925. 1,537,830

L. KIRAL AUTOMATIC FIRE SHUTTER MECHANISM Filed July 20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO May 12, 1925. 1,537,830

L. KIRAL v AUTOMATIC FIRE SHUTTER MECHANISM Filed July 20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1925 UNITED STATES LUKE KIRAIJ, on NEW YORK, NQ Y.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-SHUTTER MECHANISM.

Application filed July 20,

To whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, LUKE KIRAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Fire- Shutter Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the'same.

This invention relates to an automatic fire shutter mechanism for motion picture projecting machines;

It is aimed to provide a shutter which is driven or controlled by motion of the film as contrasted with its driving or operating mechanism, to the end that the shutter will close not only when the driving mechanism is brought to a stop, but also when the fil film catchingfire to the minimum.

\ Another object is to provide a construction which will carry out the objects men tioned and which is in the nature of an attachment readily applicable to existing machines.

A third object is to provide a construction utilizing a bracket having means thereon to be driven by the film and to receive the shutter-governor of the machine, in combination with a bell crank or other connection for interposition between the governor and the shutter-closing rod or the equivalent.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating one practical embodiment.

In said drawings I Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating my improvement as applied to a motion picture projecting machine;

Flgure 2 is a fragmentary sideielevation of the central parts of a motion picture projecting machine illustrating the im' provements' on a larger scale;

Figure 3 isa plan view of the attachment alone and on an enlarged scale; and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view bathe line 4-4 of Figure 3 taken through the fire shutter governor.

Like reference characters designate like .or similar parts in the different views.

1922. Serial No. 576,284.

Referring to the drawings, a motion picture machine is illustrated as of conventional or representative type having as usual an upper film magazine A, a lower film magazine B, film operating mechanism C intermediate the same and in the rear of which mechanism a lantern D is provided. The film E is driven by the mechanism at C from one magazine to the other. A shutter F is interposed between the lantern D and the film; being pivoted as at G and normally adapted to assume a lowered position or inoperative position. The shutter is adapted to be actuated by a rod I-I supported by a link H pivoted to the machine and, to the rod and which shutter is usually driven from an operating shaft K through the medium of gear wheels L and M (transferred in accordance with my invention as later deni tailed), normally rigid with shafts K and J, breaks or trouble in the machine otherwise respectively, and which shaft K is usually manipulated by means of a crank or handle at N. As a result of this construction, the shutter F will only be released for closing, which is effected by its own weight, upon stopping operation of the shaft K. This action has its drawbacks inasmuch as the shutter will reman open if the film should break and which in practice is the time during which many fires occur through ignition of the film from the are light of the lantern.

The disadvantages of such construction are overcome by my improvements as will now be described.

Suitably fastened to or integral with a standard 0 of the said mechanism C is a bracket 10. In the instance shown the bracket 10 has spaced. bearing arms 11 adapted to be secured in any approved manner as by means of a plurality of set screws or bolts 11 to the standard 0.

J ournaled in suitable bearing extensions 12 and 13 respectively, are shafts 15 and 14. On the shaft 15 the governor I is carried, being transferred from its normal position on the shaft J. The governor I consists of a disk 16 which is keyed or otherwise rigidly fastened to the shaft 15 and a disk 17 loose on. or capable of axial movement relatively to the disk 16 and shaft 15. In place of overnor I, a bell crank lever 18 1s p1 vote onshaft J and to rod H at 18 and its other arm pivotally connected to a pitman rod 19 which is pivoted to the disk 17 as at 19'.

Disk 17 has a marginal flange at 20 and the disk 16 has an annular flange 21 atadistance from its periphery and through which one or more rods 22 are slidably disposed for radial movement. On the rods 22 are weights or shoes 23 normally urged toward the axis of the disk 16 through the medium of expansive coil springs 24 surrounding the rods 22, bearing against the shoes 23 at one end and the flange 21 at the other end. Rigid with the rods 22 and exteriorly pf the flange 21 are clutch plates or members 25. As a result of this construe tion, upon the shaft 15 rotating, the disk 16 will rotate therewith and the centrifugal force will cause the weights 23 to overcome the tension of springs 24, thereby sliding the weights, rods and clutch members 25 outwardly and into frictional engagement with the flange 21, thereby causing movement of the disk 17 so as to rock the bell crank lever 18 and thereby impart movement to the rod H and shutter F, opening the latter and maintaining it in open position. When operation of shaft 15 ceases, springs 24 will urge the clutches 25 inwardly and thus out of engagement with the flange 20 whereby the disk 17 is released and the shutter will close by gravity.

Between the arms 11 said gear wheelL, which is transferable from shaft K, is keyed to the shaft 15 and it meshes with said gear wheel M, which is transferred from shaft J, also intermediate the arms 11, and keyed or otherwise fastened to the shaft 14. Shaft 14 constitutes the drive shaft for the governor I. Suitably keyed or otherwise rigidly fastened thereto in offset relation to the bracket 10 is a sprocket wheel 28 provided with teeth at 29 for entry into the openings 30 along the longitudinal edge of the film E and which usually accommodates the sprocket wheel over which the film is trained.

In operation, turning of crank N operates shaft K which through the medium of the various parts and gearing as at C (here unnecessary to describe and illustrate in detail) imparts motion to the film E. It will be realized that there is not a direct drive from the shaft K to the governor shaft as in ordinary construction. els, it drives the sprocket wheel 28 through the coaction of openings 30 with teeth 29. Accordingly the shaft 14 is driven which through the medium of the gear ,wheels M and drives the governor shaft 15.

Through the rotation of shaft 15, the disk 16 rotates causing the clutches 25 to be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force in clutching relation wlth the'disk 17, in the specific manner hereinbefore detailed, whereby the bell crank lever 18 is rocked by itman 19 in turn to impart motion to 1'0 H which swings the shutter F to open position and maintains it in open position as As the film E trav-.

long as the film E is driven and remains intact. Upon the film breaking, the driving of shaft 14 will thereu on cease and the governor will become inoperative whereupon the shutter will instanteouslv close of its own weight. Thus as a result of this construction, the shutter F will not only close upon shaft K ceasing to operate, but will also close upon the film E breaking or operation of the machine being otherwise impaired. In present constructions, fire often results through ignition of the film E from the lantern upon breaking of the film and before operation of the shaft li may be stopped or it is realized that the film is broken.

The details of the device may vary for different machines and even for the same machine the details may differ relative to shape and size. The bracket 10 and its bearings may be cast integral with the frame of the machine and be provided on the side thereof opposite to that where it is illustrated as attached. All means carr ing out the idea of running an automatic lii'e shutter by the film, particularlv through the addition to existing picture projecting machines of an extra or fourth sprocket wheel namely that at 28 and associated mechanism, will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

As merely one practical embodiment has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. A fire shutter mechanism for picture projecting machines having a shutter and operating means therefor including a clutch, means adapted to be driven from the film and to which said clutch is transferable for driving movement therefrom so that upon breakage of the film the shutter will protect the film against fire, and means to establish a driving connection between the clutch in its latter position and said shutter.

2. A fire shutter mechanism for picture projecting machines having ashutter and operating means therefor including a clutch, means adapted to be driven from the film and to which said clutch is transferable for driving movement therefrom so that upon breakage of the film the shutter will protect the film against fire, and means to establish a driving connection between the clutch in its latter position and said shutter, including a lever fulcrumed on the shaft from which said clutch is transferred.

3. In combination with a picture projecting machine having a fire shutter, means to operate said shutter including a shaft and a clutch thereon, a bracket attachable to the machine, first and second shafts journaled on said bracket, means to drive the first shaft from'the second shaft, means on the second shaft engageable with a film to be driven by the latter, said clutch being transferable to the first shaft, and a bell crank lever fulcrunied on the shaft from Which said clutch is transferred for connection with the clutch and the shutter, whereby upon breakage of the film the shutter will protect the film against fire.

4. In combination with a picture projecting machine having a fire shutter, means to operate said shutter including a shaft and a clutch thereon, an operating shaft and internieshing gear wheels on said shaft, a bracket attachable to the machine, first and second shafts journaled on said bracket, said intermeshing gear wheels being transferable the shaft from which said clutch is transferred to driving connection within the clutch and the shutter, whereby upon breakage of the film the shutter will protect the film against fire.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LUKE KIRAL.

Witnesses:

EDGAR JORDAN, JOSEPH JEZEK, Jr. 

